Making an online planning application

Most applications require more information than can be provided by the application form alone.

Mandatory documents

The Local Planning Authority (LPA) will not be able to process your application unless all the mandatory supporting documentation has been provided.

Please note: unless at least one attachment (or alternative submission method) is supplied for each mandatory item in the Supporting Documents section, the system will not allow you to submit your application.

There are two levels of mandatory documents, national and local:

• National – The application service will tell you what mandatory documentation you need to provide in support of your application.

• Local – The LPA will have produced a list (usually available from a link in the right-hand side panel on the supporting documents screen called ‘Find out about local level document requirements’) which details any specific documentation that is required to accompany the application, in addition to the national requirements.

For further details of the mandatory documents, including design and access statements, please refer to the Planning Practice Guidance section on validation requirements¹.

Optional documents

You can also attach any other relevant documentation which you think will help the LPA decide on the application.

Please note: You should not attempt to submit additional applications by supplying completed PDF application forms as supporting documents to another application.

Every application needs to be submitted separately, regardless of submission method.

Read our guidance detailing the different types of supporting documents and why they are required.²

Please note: The LPA cannot register an application until all supporting documentation has been received. Therefore, we recommend submitting everything online wherever possible, rather than sending some information by post, to avoid any delays in the registration of your application.

With the exception of the applicant(s) contact details (telephone numbers and email addresses), all the information you provide on the application form and in any supporting documents may be published on the LPA website. We recommend removing these details, including signatures, from supporting documents before uploading files.

1. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-an-application
2. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/planning/planning-applications/supporting-document-types